 | Braden Peak is the manager of Roto-Rooter Sewer, Drain, Septic and Grease Trap Service in Pittsburg, KS. A Girard native and a graduate of Pittsburg State University, he is a licensed sewer contractor and has been with the company since 2002. He can be reached at 620-231-5630 or by emailing kpp_rotorooter@yahoo.com. You can also become a fan of Roto-Rooter of Pittsburg on Facebook.
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Plumbing
2013-03-25 14:30:29
How do you prevent basements from flooding?
A-That’s a great question and a topic that we have covered in the past but it deserves to be covered again.
With our rainy season approaching us quickly I thought I would touch on this topic again. Flooded basements due to heavy rain can be caused by various issues, but I will cover the most common culprits. First of all, a properly installed sump pump is an important part of your basement. These pumps are designed to take in the perimeter water around the basement and safely discharge this storm water outside of your home and away from the structure. They SHOULD NOT be tied to the sanitary sewer system. It is wise to check the pump periodically to make sure it is working by pouring water into the basin until the pump turns on. Also, if you have a battery backup unit in place should the electricity go off, make sure the battery is holding a proper charge.
Older structures may have the perimeter lines around the basement tied to your sanitary sewer line. It is very important to make sure your sanitary sewer lateral is clean and free of blockages such as root intrusion. During heavy rainfall, these drain lines can be extremely taxed with water infiltration along with normal usage and perimeter water. If the main sewer lateral is even partially clogged, the water will possibly backflow into the basement.
A backflow preventer on your main sewer lateral is vitally important. This unit is simply a flap that opens when you run water and shuts should any water try to backflow toward the structure. This type of backflow occurs when the municipal sanitary sewer main becomes clogged or full due to extreme water infiltration. Many of basements have flooded due to this problem. I have said it before and will rehash this again. It is easy to blame your particular city utility but the fact of the matter is it is going to happen with older mains and even the best of preventive maintenance. The best thing you can do is protect your structure and have a backflow preventer installed on your line. These can be installed in the basement or outside the structure.
Hopefully this answers your question and helps people to understand some of the things that cause these problems. Sometimes these issues are not found until it is too late so it is best to plan ahead. As always, if you have any questions, please consult a professional. Thanks for reading.
